First and foremost, don’t wait for an emergency to start looking for a garage door repair service. When you are leaving for work in the morning and pull out of the garage and then the door won’t shut, or your garage door jams halfway open so you can’t get your car out, or you find a window broken, or the door starts shimmying and screeching like a banshee, you simply won’t be in a position (or mental state) to weigh your options carefully or to select the best repair service.

So. You need to find a good garage door service now, before a problem pops up. How do you find the right business for you? Ask friends, neighbors and co-workers if they can recommend a service. You can also find services listed online, often with consumer ratings available.

Once you have a list of promising services, take the time to visit the business address of each personally. Why? Seeing the business center will give you a good idea of the professionalism, presentation and attitude of the business and employees. Are these people you can trust with your safety and property, especially in an emergency? Make sure the business is licensed and insured—the manager and staff should be happy to show proof of this.